RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
CONCEPT

Resource : Natural endowments in the form of
land, water, vegetation and minerals are called
natural resources. Resources are materials which can
be transformed in such a way that they become more
valuable and useful for fulfilling human needs.

Types of Resources : Resources are classified
into various categories such as natural and human-
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made, renewable and non-renewable, individual,
community, national and international resources.

Natural and Human-Made or Man-Made
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Resources : Natural resources include land, soil,
water, vegetation, wildlife, minerals and power
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resources. Resources created by humans are called
human-made resources like engineering, technology,
machines, buildings, monuments, paintings and
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social institutions.

Biotic and Abiotic Resources : Resources
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obtained from the biosphere like forests, wildlife,
fisheries, livestock, human beings, etc., which have
life, are called biotic resources. Resources which are
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obtained from non-living things are called abiotic
resources. Iron, copper, gold and lead are abiotic
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resources.

Human Resources : These resources are made
up of the human beings living in the world. They are
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the most important resource of a nation.

Renewable and Non-Renewable Resources :
Some resources have the ability to renew themselves
in a given period of time. Plants and animals have
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the ability to regenerate. Minerals are non-renewable
resources. They cannot be remade. Some of the
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important renewable resources are water, forests,
solar, wind and tidal energy.

Resource Development : Some natural
resources cannot be used directly. While using the
natural resources, we must keep in mind the nature,
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type and the size of the resources. Ocean water, solar
energy, wind energy and climate are inexhaustible
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resources. Iron, tin, copper, gold and silver are
exhaustible but reusable resources. We must reuse
and recycle the resources.

Resource Planning : This is a technique or skill
of proper utilisation of resources. Resource planning
consists of three stages —

Preparation of inventory of resources — This
stage includes surveying, mapping and measurement
of characteristics and properties of resources.

Evaluation in terms of availability for
development — This stage includes the examination
Goyal’s Assignments in Social Science X (Term-I)
of resources from the point of view of technology,
economy and need.

Planning of exploitation of resources — This
stage is related with systematic planning which
emphasises on the use and reuse of the resources.
Resource planning helps to reduce wastage and
keeps the environment pollution free.

Conservation of resources — The management
of resources by the humans is known as
conservation. It is the judicious and planned use of
the natural resources.

Land resources — India has a variety of relief
features like mountains, plateaus and plains. 43% of
the country is covered by plains and they provide
cultivable land for growing crops. 30% of the
country is covered by mountains and they provide
natural resources like forests and wildlife. 27% of the
country is covered by plateaus which contain mineral
resources, forests and some arable lands.

Total area of India is 3.28 million square
kilometres. 44% of the total land area of India is the
net sown area. 22% is covered by forests, 4% is
culturable waste, 11% is fallow land, 4% are
permanent pastures, 14% land is not available for
cultivation and 1% is covered by miscellaneous tree
crops.

The land use pattern in India is determined by
both physical factors such as topography, climate,
soil types as well as human factors such as
population density, technological capability, and
culture and traditions etc.

The degradation of natural vegetation is caused
by overgrazing by animals, deforestation, careless
management of forests and degradation of land. At
present, about 130 million hectares of degraded land
exists in India.

Soil : The uppermost layer of the earth’s crust,
which is loose, fragmented and useful for plants is
called soil.

Soil Formation : The factors that contribute to
the formation and fertility of the soil are parent
rocks, climate, plant, animal and local topography.
The soils are made out of rocks. The rocks
disintegrate and decompose under the processes of
weathering and erosion.

Soil Types : The soils of India are classified into
the following types —
(1) Alluvial Soil (2) Black Soil (3) Red Soil
(4) Laterite Soil (5) Mountain Soil (6) Desert Soil
T-I — 1

Alluvial Soil : It is of two types — khadar and
bangar. It is found mainly in the Northern Plains and
Coastal Strips of the Eastern Coast.

Black Soil : It is derived from the Deccan Traps.
It occurs in areas like Maharashtra, Western Madhya
Pradesh and Gujarat. It is known for the cultivation
of cotton.

Red Soil : It is formed in areas of igneous and
metamorphic rocks. It is found in parts of Tamil
Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and
Jharkhand.

Laterite Soil : It is the intensively leached soil of
Deccan, Karnataka, Kerala, Orissa and parts of
Assam and Meghalaya.

Mountain Soil : It is characterised by the
deposition of organic materials derived from the
vegetative cover. It is found in Meghalaya, Arunachal
Pradesh, Eastern ranges, Uttarakhand, Himachal
Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

Desert Soil : It is found in the arid areas of
Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana.

Soil Erosion : The removal of soil from one
place to another by some natural agent is called soil
erosion. Conservation of lands and plantation of trees

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the monsoon climate. It is found in the hills of the are the methods adopted to reduce soil erosion.

ASSIGNMENTS FOR SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT

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I. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS (1 mark)

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A. IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

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1. Which are the main factors that determine Exclusive Economic Zone can be termed as
creation of a resource?
A T which of the following types of resource ?
(a) Nature and technology (a) Individual resources
(b) Nature and human beings (b) Community owned resources
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(c) Nature, human beings and technology (c) National resources
(d) Technology and human beings (d) International resources
2. Fossil fuels are examples of which of the 8. What is the main reason behind global
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following types of resources? ecological crises such as global warming and

(a) Renewable (b) Flow environmental pollution ?
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(c) Biological (d) Non-renewable (a) Depletion of resources

3. Under which of the following types of (b) Accumulation of resources in a few hands
resources can solar energy be categorised? (c) Indiscriminate exploitation of resources
(a) Flow resource (d) Use of resources
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(b) Human-made resource 9. What is necessity for sustained quality of life

(c) Non-recyclable resource and global peace?
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(d) Exhaustible resource (a) Stopping use of resources

4. Which of the following is a human-made (b) Saving resources for future
resource? (c) Exploitation of resources
(a) Petroleum (b) Forests (d) Equitable distribution of resources
10. From which Five Year Plan has India made
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(c) Machines (d) Land

concerted efforts for achieving the goals of
5. Which of the following resource is non- resource planning ?
recyclable?
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(a) First Five Year Plan

(a) Coal (b) Iron-ore (b) Fifth Five Year Plan
(c) Copper (d) Gold
(c) Annual Plans (d) Tenth Five Year Plan
6. On the basis of ownership, plantations can be 11. Which of the following regions has the best
better considered as which of the following possibility for development?
types of resources?
(a) A region with natural resources
(a) Individual resource (b) A region with advanced technology
(b) Community owned resource (c) A region with natural resources along with
(c) National resource quality human resource and technology
(d) International resource (d) A region with large population density
7. The oceanic resources beyond 200 km of the
T-I — 2 Goyal’s Assignments in Social Science X (Term-I)
12. Which of the following states is resource rich 18. What percentage of India’s geographical area
but comparatively economically backward? is under forest?
(a) Rajasthan (b) Arunachal Pradesh (a) 23 per cent (b) 33 per cent
(c) Maharashtra (d) Chhattisgarh (c) 54 per cent (d) 80 per cent
13. Which of the following is the root cause for 19. Which one of the following is the main cause
resource depletion at global level, according to of land degradation in states like Jharkhand,
Gandhiji? Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa?
(a) Conservation of resources (a) Deforestation due to mining
(b) Use of resources (b) Overgrazing (c) Over-irrigation
(c) Greedy and selfish individuals and (d) Industrial waste
exploitative nature of modern technology 20. What is plantation of trees on a large scale to
(d) Backward technology check soil erosion termed as?

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14. What was the main contribution of the (a) Afforestation (b) Plantation agriculture
Brundtland Commission Report, 1987? (c) Terrace cultivation(d) Shelter belts

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(a) Sustainable development as means for 21. What is arrangement of soil in different
resource conservation layers or horizons known as?

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(b) Advocated resource conservation for the (a) Soil Composition (b) Soil Erosion
first time (c) Soil Profile (d) Soil Texture
(c) Presented Gandhian philosophy 22. Black soil is also known by which of the

SH H
(d) All the above following names?
15. Which of the following regions possesses rich (a) Bangar (b) Khadar (c) Regur (d) Laterite
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reserves of minerals and fossil fuels?
(a) Plains (b) Mountains
23. Which of the following is the parent rock for
black soil?
(c) Plateaus (d) Deserts
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(a) Granite (b) Kankar (c) Basalt (d) Sand
16. What is area sown more than once in an 24. What are the intensively leached soils of the
agriculture year plus net sown area known as? monsoon climate known as?
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(a) Permanent pastures(b) Fallow lands (a) Alluvial soil (b) Black soil
(c) Net sown area (d) Gross cropped area (c) Red soil (d) Laterite soil
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17. What is land used for grazing cattle and 25. Which of the following types of soil is
livestock known as? predominant in Rajasthan?
(a) Forests (b) Barren land (a) Yellow soil (b) Red soil
(c) Pasture land (d) Fallow land (c) Arid soil (d) Forest soil
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B. QUESTIONS FROM CBSE EXAMINATION PAPERS

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1. In which of the following states is overgrazing 4. How much desired area is required for forest
responsible for land degradation? [2010 (T-1)] in our country? [2010 (T-1)]
(a) Jharkhand and Orissa (a) 16% (b) 20%
(b) Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan (c) 23.2% (d) 28%
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(c) Punjab and Haryana 5. Which of the following method will not help
(d) Kerala and Tamil Nadu in soil conservation? [2010 (T-1)]
2. Which one of the following soil is ideal for (a) Contour ploughing
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growing cotton? [2010 (T-1)] (b) Strip cropping

(a) Regur Soil (b) Laterite Soil (c) Creating shelter belts
(c) Desert Soil (d) Mountainous Soil (d) Ploughing up and down the slopes
3. Which among the following is a type of 6. ‘Laterite’ has been derived form the Greek
resources classified on the basis of word ‘later’ which means : [2010 (T-1)]
exhaustibility? [2010 (T-1)] (a) Mountain (b) Brick
(a) Biotic and abiotic (c) Rock (d) Stone
(b) Renewable and non renewable 7. Resources which are surveyed and their
(c) National and individal quantity and quality have been determined
(d) Potential and reserves for utilisation are known as : [2010 (T-1)]
Goyal’s Assignments in Social Science X (Term-I) T-I — 3
 (a) Potential resources (b) Stock 16. The mountain share in the total land area is :
(c) Developed resources (d) Reserves [2010 (T-1)]
8. How can the resources be classified on the (a) 30% (b) 27%
basis of their origin? [2010 (T-1)] (c) 43% (d) 40%
(a) Biotic and Abiotic 17. What is the percentage share of plains in the
(b) Renewable and Non-renewable total land area? [2010 (T-1)]
(c) Individual and Community (a) 43% (b) 23%
(d) Potential and Reserves (c) 33% (d) 27%
9. When running water cuts through clayey soils 18. Which one of the following is not a renewable
and makes deep channels, they lead to : resource? [2010 (T-1)]
[2010 (T-1)] (a) Solar energy (b) Wind energy
(a) Gully erosion (b) Sheet erosion (c) Forests (d) Fossil Fuels

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(c) Deforestation (d) Afforestation 19. In which one of the following states is terrace
10. Which one of the following states has mostly cultivation practised? [2010 (T-1)]

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laterite soil? [2010 (T-1)] (a) Punjab (b) Haryana
(a) Uttar Pradesh (b) Bihar (c) Gujarat (d) Uttarakhand

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(c) Rajasthan (d) Meghalaya 20. Which one of the following is not an ‘Abiotic
11. Which one of the following is a Biotic Resource’? [2010 (T-1)]
Resource? [2010 (T-1)]

SH H
(a) Rock (b) Metals
(a) Land (b) Water (c) Fish (d) Minerals
(c) Human beings (d) Rocks 21. Which one of the following is the main cause
12.
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Which one of the following is not the
community owned resource? [2010 (T-1)]
of land degradation in Punjab? [2010 (T-1)]
(a) Intensive Cultivation
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(a) Grazing grounds (b) Burial grounds (b) Overgrazing (c) Deforestation
(c) Village ponds (d) Over-irrigation
(d) Privately owned house 22. Under which of the following type of
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13. Which one of the following is not an Abiotic resources can tidal energy be put?
Resource? [2010 (T-1)] [2010 (T-1)]
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(a) Metals (b) Rocks (a) Human made (b) Biotic

(c) Machines (d) Horses (c) Non-recyclable (d) None of these
14. Which one of the following is not a ‘Biotic 23. Soil formed by intense leaching is :
Resource’? [2010 (T-1)] [2010 (T-1)]
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(a) Flora and Fauna (b) Rocks (a) alluvial soil (b) red soil
(c) Fisheries (d) Livestock (c) laterite soil (d) desert soil
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15. Which one of the following is an example of 24. Which cold desert is relatively isolated from
Biotic resources? [2010 (T-1)] the rest of the country? [2010 (T-1)]
(a) Rock (b) Iron ore (c) Gold (d) Animal (a) Leh (b) Kargil (c) Ladakh (d) Dras

II. SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS (3 marks)

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A. IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
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1. Distinguish between potential resource and stock
with the help of examples.
2. What does the term ‘sustainable economic
development’ mean? How can we eradicate
irrational consumption and over-utilisation of
resources?
3. List the problems caused due to indiscriminate
use of resources by human beings.
4. What are the different factors that determine land
T-I — 4
use? What type of relief covers most of India’s
land? How is it used?
5. Why does the pattern of net sown area vary from
one state to another?
6. Which type of soil is ideal for growth of cotton?
What are the main characteristics of this type of
soil? Name some areas where they are found.
7. Analyse the four main factors which help in the
formation of soil.
Goyal’s Assignments in Social Science X (Term-I)
 B. QUESTIONS FROM CBSE EXAMINATION PAPERS

1. What do you mean by conservation of resources? 13. Distinguish between renewable and non-
Why is it essential? Give any two reasons. renewable resources. [2010 (T-1)]
[2010 (T-1)] 14. Describe any three types of soil available in India.
2. Suggest any three meansures of soil conservation. [2010 (T-1)]
[2010 (T-1)] 15. Explain the importance of conservation of
3. What are the biotic and abiotic resources? Give resources. [2010 (T-1)]
two examples for each. [2010 (T-1)] 16. Explain the role of humans in resource
4. Explain three reasons for land-degradation. development.
[2010 (T-1)] 17. Explain what is meant by national resources and

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5. Explain any three steps that can be taken to solve by individual resources. [2010 (T-1)]
the problem of land degradation. [2010 (T-1)] 18. Indiscriminate use of resources has led to

A R
6. What is resource planning? Give three phases of numerous problems. Justify the statement with
resource planning. [2010 (T-1)] any three suitable points. [2010 (T-1)]
7. Explain the resources on the basis of origin and 19. Describe any three main characteristics of arid

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exhaustibility. [2010 (T-1)] soil of India. [2010 (T-1)]
8. Distinguish between Khadar and Bangar. Name 20. How are alluvial soils formed? How is Banagar

SH H
any two states where alluvial soils are found. different from Khadar? [2010 (T-1)]
[2010 (T-1)] 21. Why is there need for balanced resource planning
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9. Distinguish between individual resources and
community owned resources. Give any two points
of difference. [2010 (T-1)]
at the national, state or regional level? Explain
any three reasons. [2010 (T-1)]
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22. What are the three stages of Resource Planning
10. Defferentiate between stock resources and in India? [2010 (T-1)]
reserves. [2010 (T-1)] 23. Describe any three main characteristics of black
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11. Explain the types of Resources on the basis of soil in India. [2010 (T-1)]
exhaustibility with the help of examples. 24. What are the main advantages of India’s land
B

[2010 (T-1)] under a variety of relief features? [2010 (T-1)]

12. What is soil erosion? Write two human activities 25. Highlight any three problems assoicated with the
that lead to soil erosion. [2010 (T-1)] indiscriminate use of resources by the human
beings? [2010 (T-1)]
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III. LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS (4 marks)

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A. IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

1. What are ‘resources’? Distinguish between Which type of soil is the most widespread and
renewable and non-renewable resources. Give important soil of India ? Describe in detail about
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examples. this soil type.

2. What are the steps involved in the complex 4. What is soil erosion? How do human activities
process of resource planning? Why is resource and natural forces cause soil erosion? Suggest
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planning important in the context of a country measures of soil conservation in hilly,

like India? mountaineous areas and in desert areas.
3. What are the main types of soil found in India? 5. What is the need for ‘conservation of resources’?
Elucidate in the light of Gandhiji’s view.

B. QUESTIONS FROM CBSE EXAMINATION PAPERS

1. What is resource planning? Why is resource 2. Explain any four human activities which are
planning essential? Explain with three reasons. mainly responsible for land degradation in India.
[2008] [2009]

Goyal’s Assignments in Social Science X (Term-I) T-I — 5

3. Give the importance of soil. Explain any three Which human activities have contributed
factors responsible for soil formation. [2009] significantly to land degradation? Suggest
4. Classify resources on the basis of ownership into measures to solve the problems of land
four categories. Mention the main features of degradation.
each. [2009] OR
5. What does the term ‘land degradation’ mean? What are the reasons for land degradation?
Describe any four measures to conserve land.
IV. MAP WORK (4 marks)
A. IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

1. On an outline map of India mark and label (c) A soil which is sandy in texture and saline

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the following soil types with help of the in nature.
identification clues. (d) A soil type which can be classified into

A R
(a) Most important soil type of India Bangar and Khadar
(b)Soil known as regur or black cotton soil 3. On an outline map of India mark and label
(c) Soil type of Jammu and Kashmir the following.

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(d)Soil type which experiences leaching (a) A state with 80 per cent of its area as net
2. On an outline map of India, mark and label sown area.

SH H
the following. Identify and name the soil types (b) A state with less than 10 per cent of it total
and shade them on the map. area as net sown area.
A T
(a) A soil type which develops on crystalline (c) A state which has sufferred land
igneous rocks in areas of low rainfall. degradation due to mining.
(b) A soil type with very low humus content in (d) A state whose land has been affected due
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areas of heavy rainfall. to overgrazing.
A R

B. QUESTIONS FROM CBSE EXAMINATION PAPERS

1. For identification only. (Soil Types) [2010 (T-1)]
B
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T-I — 6 Goyal’s Assignments in Social Science X (Term-I)

 ASSIGNMENTS FOR FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
A. PROJECT WORK
Q.1.Survey the locality in which you live. Identify
the landuse pattern, i.e. the various type of
uses that land has been put to. Find out the
causes of land degradation in the area where
you live.
During the holidays collect the same
informations—landuse and land degradation
B. ACTIVITIES
from a nearby village. Compare the
information collected for the town and village.
Q.2.Collect samples of different types of soil found
in India. On a chart draw a map showing soil
types of India using appropriate colours. On
another chart fix the soil samples in
transparent plastic packets and write in short
about the characteristics of each type of soil.

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Q.1.Given below are some measures of soil conservation. Identify them and fill up the following :

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Type of soil conservation. Type of soil conservation. Type of soil conservation.
__________________ __________________ __________________

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Areas in which applied. Areas in which applied. Areas in which applied.

SH H
_____________________ _____________________ _____________________

A T
K O
A R B

Q.2. Soil Profile

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Take a large mouthed cyclindrical beaker. Carefully put the following inside the beaker one by one in
layers.
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Layers Material used Layer represented

Bottom layer Big pieces of rocks
Next layer over it Small rocks, pebbles, coarse soil
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3rd layer Smaller rocks, sand, silt and clay

Topmost layer Loose soil and decomposed leaves
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Demarcate the layers using marker pens. Label the Soil Horizons formed inside the beaker. Fill up
the column for layer represented to show the different Horizons of Soil Profile.

C. ASSIGNMENTS
Q.1. Classify.
Given below are examples of some resources. Classify them on the basis of ownership :
Plots of land, forest, grazing grounds, manganese nodules in the bed of Indian Ocean, village ponds,
wells, orchards, public parks, canals, railways, coral reefs, playgrounds, houses, shopping malls, iron ore
deposits in the country, rivers, pet dog, wildlife.

Goyal’s Assignments in Social Science X (Term-I) T-I — 7

 Individual Community Owned National International
Resources Resources Resources Resources

Q.2. Missing Letters

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(a) _ E _ _ L _ Recyclable non-
renewable resource.

A R
(b) R__E_V_ Subset of stock.
(c) _ I _ D _ J _ _ E I _ _ First
international earth

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summit was held
here.

SH H
(d) _ O U _ _ A _ N _ Ensure perennial
flow of some rivers. (i) An exhaustible resource that also causes
(e)
A T B _ R _ _ N Land unfit for cultivation pollution on use.
(ii) A non-renewable, recyclable resource.
D. QUIZZES (iii) Natural endowments in form of land,
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water, vegetation, minerals, etc.
Q.1. Word Jumble.
(iv) Fertile soil, forming the Northern Plains of
(a) ADWTSAENL _______________ (Rocky,
A R

India.
arid and desert areas that cannot be easily (v) Soil developed on crystalline igneous rocks
put under any economic use). in areas of low rainfall.
B

(b) TARGAUJ _______________ (vi) Plantation of trees on large scale to check

(Overgrazing is a main reason of land soil erosion.
degradation in this state). (vii) Intensively leached soils in areas of heavy
(c) SUHMU _______________ (Organic rainfall.
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matter in top soil). (viii) Soil with high water retaining capacity.
(d) RANABG _______________ (Old (ix) Utilisation of land for various purposes.
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alluvium). (x) Renewable natural resource which is

(e) IRAD LOIS _______________ (Soil that medium for plant growth.
is sandy in texture and saline in nature).
Q.2. Match the following E. GROUP DISCUSSION
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(i) Alluvial Soil (a) Regur Q.1. Discuss in the class how we can conserve
(ii) Black Soil (b) Found in forested resources at our homes and in school.
hilly and mountainous areas
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Q.2. Debate
(iii) Red Soil (c) Riverine Soil
(iv) Forest Soil (d) Very low humus Divide the class into two groups.
content Group A will discuss how technology leads to
(v) Laterite Soil (e) Diffusion of iron in creation of resources.
old crystalline and metamorphic rocks Group B will discuss how technology leads to
Q.3.Word Grid : Solve the puzzle by following your destruction of resources.
search horizontally and vertically and circle the Draw inference as to the role of human in
answers for the following clues. utilising technology to create and exploit
resources.

T-I — 8 Goyal’s Assignments in Social Science X (Term-I)